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Web Series Name : Arabia Kadali
Streaming Date : Aug 08, 2025
Streaming Platform : Amazon Prime Video
123telugu.com Rating : 3/5
Starring : Satyadev, Anandhi, Nasser, Ravi Varma, Poonam Bajwa, Amit Tiwari, Dalip Tahil, Nihar Pandya, Alok Jain, Prathyusha Sadhu, Raghu Babu, & others
Director : V.V. Surya Kumar
Producers : Y. Rajeev Reddy, J. Sai Babu
Music Director : Nagavelli Vidyasagar
Cinematographer  : Sameer Reddy
Editor : Chanakya Reddy Toorupu

Related Links : Trailer

Prime Video has now dropped a Telugu original series titled “Arabia Kadali”. The show starring Satyadev and Anandhi in the lead roles is now streaming in multiple languages. Let’s find out how it is.

Story:

Arabia Kadali is based on the real-life events of fishermen from Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, who mistakenly entered Pakistani territorial waters in 2018 during a fishing expedition and were later detained for about 2 years.

Nuragala Badiri (Satyadev), hailing from Chepalawada, is an educated and wise fisherman. Ganga (Anandhi) from his neighbouring village, Matsyawada, is his love interest. Due to lack of proper infrastructure (jetty), all the fishermen in the surrounding regions travel to Gujarat to make ends meet. In one of their fishing expeditions in the Arabian Sea, Badiri, along with his fellow fishermen, enters Pakistani waters. What happened next is the crux of the show.

Plus Points:

Even if you haven’t followed Arabia Kadali’s promotional content closely, by now you would have understood that the series bears a striking resemblance to a Tollywood hit film, which was also released this year. Arabia Kadali and the feature film discussed here are inspired by the same incident, but the former takes a more grounded and realistic approach.

Few aspects are dramatized, but they remain logical and don’t go overboard at any point. Fiction is added just enough to avoid a documentary-like feel, but at the same time, no unnecessary elements were included. This balanced approach is the best part of the series, for which the makers deserve applause.

Arabia Kadali intends to highlight the problems faced by fishermen both in India and Pakistan, and the outcome is satisfactory. Not only does the series showcase fishermen’s issues, but it also proposes solutions to prevent such incidents hereafter. The love track is neatly done and adds value to the proceedings.

The internet is abuzz with praise for Satyadev’s recent performances, and Arabia Kadali once again proves that he can pull off any role with conviction. Surely, Satyadev is the next big thing in Tollywood. The attention to detail reveals the level of groundwork that has gone into the making of the series.

From Anandhi to Nasser, Poonam Bajwa, Amit Tiwari, Dalip Tahil, Nihar Pandya, Alok Jain, Prathyusha Sadhu, to Raghu Babu, everyone aced their roles by delivering exactly what was required for the show. Arabia Kadali also effectively taps into the humanity angle in the enemy country.

Minus Points:

It’s not the content, but the release timing that is Arabia Kadali’s biggest issue. Since the web show also deals with the same incident as the feature film, some might not show interest in the show. Having already known about the plot, there will be barely any excitement left.

The VFX works are not at the desired level in some scenes. Especially the storm sequence, which forms a key part in the plot, could have been executed better. In a couple of episodes, the pacing slows down, and the editing could have been sharper here.

Technical Aspects:

Krish Jagarlamudi is the showrunner for Arabia Kadali, and his mark is visible in several scenes. V.V. Surya Kumar’s direction is good as he presents the subject with utmost sincerity. The screenplay and story provided by Chinthakindhi Srinivasa Rao stay true to the subject without deviations. Interestingly, the story writer also played a supporting role. He performed with ease and excelled in the Uttarandhra dialect.

Generally, when the narrative shifts to a non-Telugu region, we often see actors speaking broken Telugu, which might be off-putting for a few. But Arabia Kadali takes the RRR route by allowing the non-Telugu characters to speak in their native languages. Elements like these make the show look more natural and authentic. Nagavelli Vidyasagar’s music and Sameer Reddy’s cinematography are good.

Verdict:

On the whole, Arabia Kadali is an honest attempt at depicting the plight of Srikakulam fishermen who accidentally drifted into Pakistani waters. The realistic approach taken by the makers, the actors’ solid performances, and the solutions proposed for fishermen’s problems are the show’s biggest strengths. Since many would have already watched the feature film on the same subject, it might be fresh in their memory, taking away the excitement factor. For those who haven’t watched the feature film, Arabia Kadali ends up being a satisfactory watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team